2026 Rankings Newcomers: Running Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Which Freshmen running backs cracked our Watchlist Rankings and are coming off stellar first seasons for their respective teams? Find out below! </strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["412188"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6439c5fb5e967"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coming off a very nice first year campaign for Centennial, the 2026 prospect is a APB with great hands out of the backfield and is a natural runner both in traffic and the open field. He is a quick footed kid that can run through tackles and is fast enough to bounce it outside the tackles when needed, while also able to follow his pullers and cut against the flow in zone schemes. Effective when catching the ball, he shows good ball location skills, soft hands and good first and second level burst before breaking into the open. As he grows and develops, he will only continue to rise up our rankings and has some of the better 2026 running back tape in the region. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/OwenPReynoso/status/1616542226318004226?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/OwenPReynoso/status/1616542226318004226?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401178"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6439c5fb5e9c5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Birchak is a well rounded runner that gets downhill in a hurry and runs behind his pads with good foot speed and contact balance through the first level. He is a smooth athlete with start/stop abilities and is a north and south player that looks for contact in the hole and show solid leg drive through contact with third level speed as well. A pretty well put together kid, he should crack our rankings as he moves through his sophomore season. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BirchakVan21/status/1613746807678603264?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BirchakVan21/status/1613746807678603264?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["630999"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6439c5fb5ea17"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Renneman is a put together back that has good initial acceleration and second level speed while able to gain the tough yards inside and runs with natural forward lean. In the hole, he shows some short area twitch and will continue to develop his third level speed and lateral agility as he progresses through high school. He also showed he can catch the ball out of the backfield and turns upfield quickly while running strong and breaking ankle tackles in the open field. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Other Top Names to Note...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401179"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6439c5fb5ea64"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401166"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6439c5fb5eac8"} /-->